Lucian man gets 18 months for cannabis possession

A St Lucian man was last week jailed for 18 months, after he pleaded guilty to possession of 14,528 grams (32 pounds) of cannabis.{{more}}

Maulius Delic, 26, labourer, appeared at the Serious Offences Court on September 25 and pleaded guilty to the charge. He was jointly charged with Vandenbert John, 39, fisherman/farmer of Petit Bordel.

John also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 16 months in jail by Chief Magistrate Sonya Young.

According to the facts, at about 9 a.m. on February 15, 2013, at Morne Ronde mountains, PC 771 Bowens was among a party of Rapid Response Unit (RRU) personnel when he spotted a man dressed in orange standing close to a hut.

When Bowens shouted, “Police! Don’t move!, the man went into the hut. The court heard that three men were in the hut, but one managed to escape.

During a search, a bundle of cannabis was found on the ground along with two buckets containing cannabis.

When cautioned, John said “Officer, ah my weed. Me go tek the lock up.”

John’s attorney, Ronald Marks, in mitigation, told the court that his client had no previous convictions and that he was a father of four children – ages two to 12.

In the case of Delic, who was unrepresented, he said he came to St Vincent just to visit and went up to the mountains with John because he wanted a smoke.

The father of two said John told him if he assisted in doing some cleaning, he would get some marijuana.

However, the Chief Magistrate did not buy his story.

Young said she believes Delic came to St Vincent to get involved in the marijuana activity.

“Imagine you just going up to a plantation to get a smoke. I can’t believe that,” Young said.(KW)